Combination fuse and switch box



Nov. 19, 1935. c. J. GORDON COMBINATION FUSE AND SWITCH BOX Filed Nov. 9, 1934 Ill LII lllbd l l l P l ll| 1 4 Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION FUSE AND SWITCH BOX Application November 9, 1934, Serial No. 752,349

6 Claims.

This invention. relates to a combination fuse and switch box for housing a house current fuse and a meter fuse.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an inclosed fuse and switch box whereby access to the house current fuse is prevented without first disengaging the meter switch.

Another object is to provide a two compartment cheat proof cabinet whereby it is impossible to shunt current from the meter fuse to the house current fuse.

A further object is to provide an improved switch controlled by the movement of the cabinet covers for making and breaking the meter circuit.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent when the specification is considered with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side sectional view of the box;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the combination fuse and switch box in closed position, the covers being partly broken away; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the side of the box showing the stop means.

Referring more particularly to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawing, the numeral I indicates a cabinet or box of metal or the like, having a back wall 2, side walls 3 and end walls t. The cabinet is divided into two compartments 5 and 6, substantially rectangular in shape, by means of a partition wall I suitably joined to the side walls 3.

Suitably mounted on the back wall 2 of the compartment 6, preferably in a corner thereof, is a fuse block I of conventional form having two fuses 8 therein. The side walls 3 and end wall 4 of the compartment 6 have the upper edge I I thereof formed with outwardly, upwardly and inwardly bent, substantially U-shaped guides I2. In order to close the compartment 6 there is provided a laterally movable sliding cover 9, having a suitable handle I thereon, which cover is adapted to be slidably received in the U-shaped guides I2.

An insulated switch block I3 of porcelain or like material, is secured to the under side of the sliding cover 9 by means of screws or the like I4. The end Wall 4 of the compartment 6 has an opening I5 through which the switch block I3 may be withdrawn when the cover is opened. Associated with this opening I5 is a plate I6 suitably secured to the outer end of the cover 9, which serves to close the opening I5 when the cover is in closed position. The switch block I3 is provided with two bores Il extending therethrough for the reception of insulating tubings I8 of fibre or the like. The tubings I8 inclose two cylindrical concentrically arranged metallic contacts I9 which constitute the male members of the switch block I 3. 5

The outer ends of the male contact members I9 have rigidly secured therein guide rods 28 of insulating material, such as fibre or bakelite. The two guide rods 20 are adapted to be inserted through the metallic female contact members 2|, 10 which members are securely positioned in apertures 22 of the partition wall I of the cabinet, the guide rods being employed to insure a proper mechanical contact between the male and female member I9 and 2|, respectively, when the laterally movable cover 9 is closed.

A second fuse block 23, of conventional form,

' suitably mounted on the rear wall 2 of the compartment 5, is electrically connected by wires 25- and 25 to the female contact members 2i. A vertically movable sliding cover 26, having a suitable handle 21 thereon, is adapted to be slidably received in the U-shaped guide I2 of one of the end Walls 4, and the metallic guide members 30 and 3|. The cover 26 is provided with the metallic male member 33, suitably secured to the under side of the cover 26, and is adapted to slidably engage the metallic female channel member 3i, positioned adjacent to and extending parallel with the par- 30 tition wall 'I. The ends of the female guide member 3I seat in recesses or cut-out portions, not shown, formed in the side walls 3 of the compartment 5. One of the side walls 3 is provided with an outwardly extended or offset L-shaped portion :5 33 in the upper edge thereof, which portion serves to limit the inward sliding movement of the cover 26 when engaged by a stop member 35. This stop member is integrally formed with or secured in offset relation to the end 34 of the cover 26. When the cover 26 is in closed position the stop member 35 is adapted to extend into the L- shaped portion 33 of the wall 3, thus permitting the cover 9 also to be closed.

A conventional plug 36 in the end wall 4 of the 46 compartment 6 provides an inlet for the electrical conductors 31 leading from the main line (not shown) through the usual meter 38, to one side of the fuse block I, and also to the inner ends 39 of the metallic contacts I9 of the switch block I3. A 50 plug 40 of conventional form, in the end wall 4 of the compartment 5 provides an outlet for the electrical conductors 4|, leading from the fuse block 23, to the house-wiring system.

Stops 42, of any desired form, such as screws,

are fitted into the covers 9 and 26, which stops serve to prevent the covers from slipping out of their guide members when in open position.

It will be seen that when the sliding cover 9 is closed that the extended switch guide rods 20 will extend through the female contact members 2! in the partition wall 1, thus closing the circuit leading to fuse block 23 in the compartment 5. Therefore it will be noted that in order to get current to the fuse block 23 it is necessary for the sliding cover 26 to be in closed position in order to permit of the cover 9 being fully closed, otherwise the cover 9 will engage the offset stop member 35 on the cover 26 and interfere with the closing of same, whereby the male conductor members l9 are prevented from contacting the female conductor members 2!. When the cover 26 is fully closed, the offset stop 35 will be positioned at one side of the path of travel of the cover 9, and the latter can be closed.

In order to gain access to the fuse block 23 it is necessary to move the cover 9 sufficiently to permit the projecting stop member 35 to clear the edge of the cover 9.

This comparatively slight movement of the cover 9, however, serves to break the connection between conductor members I9 and 2| and thus disrupt the flow of current to the fuse block 23, thereby preventing the operator from. being shocked or injured by contact with the live wires on the fuse block 23.

In order to prevent an unauthorized person from gaining access to the inlet fuse block I, for the purpose of tampering with the electrical connections and obtaining an unauthorized use of electricity, I provide a conventional flexible seal member 43, suitably connected to one of the U- shaped guides l2 and the cover 9, for controlling the extent of movement of the cover 9. The length of this member 43 is such that the cover 9 can only be moved sufficiently to permit of the stop 35 on cover 26 clearing the adjacent edge of the cover 9. This movement of the cover 9 is insufficient to permit of a person making the necessary connections to shunt current around the meter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A two part fuse and switch box comprising fuse and switch compartments, said compartments having covers sliding at right angles to each other, switch means mounted on said switch compartment cover for making and breaking contacts connected with a fuse in said fuse compartment.

2. A fuse and switch box of the character de scribed, having fuse and switch compartments therein, said compartments having sliding covers therefore, a switch comprising an insulated block mounted on the under side of the switch compartment cover, metallic contact members positioned in said block, contact members in a partition of said box, said members being adapted to receive said metallic contact members therein upon closing of the switch compartment cover.

3. A two part fuse and switch box comprising fuse and switch compartments, said compartments having slidably removable cover members, stop means on one of said members to prevent access to the fuse compartment while said switch is closed.

4. A two part fuse and switch box comprising fuse and switch compartments, sliding covers for said compartments, a switch connected to said switch compartment cover, said covers adapted to be slidably moved at right angles to each other, a projecting stop member on one end of the fuse compartment cover for engagement with said switch compartment cover to prevent access to the fuse compartment while said switch is closed.

5. A two part fuse and switch box comprising fuse and switch compartments, said compart ments having cover members slidably received in guide members thereon, said switch compartment cover having a switch mounted thereon, a laterally projecting stop member on one end of said fuse compartment cover for engagement with the edge of said switch compartment cover to prevent access to the fuse compartment while the switch is closed.

6. A fuse and switch compartment box of the character described, having fuse and switch compartments therein, said compartments having sliding covers and side and end walls, a side Wall thereof having a cut-out portion, a laterally extending stop member on one end of said fuse compartment cover, said stop member adapted to fit into said cut-out portion and to engage the switch compartment cover for preventing access to the fuse compartment when the switch compartment cover is closed.

CHRISTOPHER J. GORDON. 

